Thomas J. Deneen

1930 - 2016

Thomas J. Deneen died unexpectedly on November 1, 2016 in Melbourne, Florida. He was born on March 26, 1930 in Jamaica, Queens, New York, to Thomas J. and Claire (Flynn) Deneen. Tom graduated from Jamaica High School where he excelled in baseball and basketball and was named to the All-Queens, New York City, basketball team. He continued his athletic and academic accomplishments at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, CT where he was co-captain of the baseball, basketball and track teams and was awarded 10 athletic letters during his college career. In 1953, Tom was the Connecticut Collegiate batting leader with a .371 batting average. Upon graduation in 1953 he was the co-recipient of the Gladstone Award which honored the most outstanding student-athlete in the graduating class. Tom played in the Hartford Twilight Baseball League and led the league with the highest batting average in 1954. Tom was elected to CCSU's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1986. Tom earned a Master's Degree from Columbia University and commenced a long teaching and coaching career initially in East Hartford, Ct., and over 30 years at Central Junior High School in Greenwich, CT. Tom served as the Greenwich High School varsity baseball coach for 20 years. In 1988 he was named the CIAC Connecticut Baseball Coach of the Year. Tom's teams won over 300 games and won five Fairfield County (FCIAC) Championships. One of Tom's former player's was Steve Young who was a pitcher on his varsity team. Steve was so touched by Coach Deneen that he invited Tom and his wife Nancy to Steve's NFL Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Canton, Ohio. Tom also coached Greenwich Central Junior High School girls basketball for 15 years and was town champion for 12 years with six undefeated seasons. Tom and his wife Nancy retired to Melbourne in 1994. Two weeks before Tom's passing, he was inducted into the Greenwich High School Athletic Hall of Fame. He was predeceased by his wife, Nancy (Borden) and he leaves two sons, Thomas of Melbourne, and David of Greenwich, CT., as well as two granddaughters, Morgan and Shelby, whom he adored, and two brothers, Donald of Sarasota, FL and Richard of Vernon, Connecticut. Tom was a tough and intense competitor on the baseball field and on the basketball court but he was a kind, loving and gentle man away from sports competition. Tom was deeply loved and admired by his family, friends, students and former players and will forever be in our hearts. Tom lived a productive and great life and he is now reunited with the love of his life, Nancy. A celebration of Tom's life will be held on Wednesday, November 16, 2016 at 11:00am at Hope Episcopal Church, 190 Interlachen Road, Melbourne, FL. There will be a memorial service for Tom and Nancy in the future in Greenwich, CT. In lieu of flowers, send memorial donations in the name of Tom Deneen to; Blue Devil Pride Fund, CCSU Foundation, P.O. Box 612, New Britain, CT 06050 or The Old Timers Athletic Association of Greenwich, P.O. Box 558, Greenwich, CT 06836.